September 15, 2014 Monday

Got up and did some Disco with Richard Simmons.  What a way to start the week.


Genesis - chapter 16.  About Hagar and Ishmael.  This was Abrams son by Sarai's Egyptian maid.  Sarai requested Abram to take her and have children because she couldn't and then the maid, because she bore him a son got an attitude and Sarai got mad at Abram.  Sounds like a soap on TV.  The deeper part to his story is Hagar and Sarai, later known as Sarah, the battle is still going on.  Look into it.


On this day:
1992 - My cousin Barb, sister Alice, Deb Logan and her family and I all went down to the Fox Theatre to hear Michael Crawford sing music from Andrew Lloyd Weber.  It was truly a memorable performance. I should download some of this, it was wonderful.
1930 - Hoagy Carmichael recorded "Georgia on My Mind." The song has been the official state song of Georgia since 1922. Another classic composer who also wrote "Stardust".  my favorite.


Parenting - I took my kids everywhere with me, but I had to wonder why this young couple took their two year old and infant child, that they had to carry through 7 - 1 to 2 million dollar houses with a lot of drooling adults, kind of made me wonder.  I can tell you the children did not enjoy it.  It was, I am sure a learning experience.  Oh look honey - a wine cellar.


Damascus - Lets look at culture.
ADVERTISING INFORMATION

Damascus - Culture

The Syrian population is estimated at some 16 million in the year 2000. The Majority are Arabs and the largest minorities are Armenians and Kurds. The majority are Muslims also (85%), and the rest (15%) are Christians. Syria is famous for its deep religious tolerance. The family is central to the Syrian society. Syrians place high priority on mutual support of family members and acting in the best interests of the family’s reputation. The father is usually the head of the family and the elderly are shown special respect in the society. Socializing with family and friends is the most common recreational activity. Syrians welcome people with an outstretched hand saying “Mrahaba” (Hello). “Keefak” usually follows this? (How are you?) or “Keefek” for a woman. Depending on their relationship, men embrace each other and women exchange kisses on either cheek. Most important Islamic holidays include Eid al-Fitr (a three-day-feast celebrating the end of Ramadan), Eid al-Adha (Held during the annual pilgrimage to Mecca). Armenians celebrate Christmas on 7th of January. Christians celebrate Easter on the first Sunday of April, or the second depending to the Oriental Calendar followed by Armenians and Orthodox Christians. It’s impolite to refuse a Syrian’s invitation for food or drink, although it’s considered good manners to refuse two offers for food from a person before accepting the third. In the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, people fast from sunrise till sunset.   Damascus University, the largest in Syria, dates back to the beginning of the last century. Today in its ninth decade, the University is still one of the most important centers of Arab culture in the Middle East. The nucleus of this University was the Damascus School of Medicine, established in 1903 during the Ottoman era. In 1919, the Institute of law was founded and the two colleges were united in 1923 under the name of "The Syrian University" After the Syrian independence in 1946, the University witnessed great improvements, with many faculties added. In 1958, during the Syria-Egypt Union, it was renamed as Damascus University.

Enjoy the day!  Make it memorable!

September 14, 2014 Sunday

Going to homearama today should get in a good amount of walking.


Pastor Beebe will be doing the sermon today.  I love his sermons, he is so natural.


On this day:
1967 - My friend Chris' mother in law was an excellent cook.  She ran the kitchen for WXYX and also did some catering.  She had a food trailer out at the Willow Run airport for a Blue Angels air show this weekend and we were all called in to help.  It was no small feat.  Back in those days these events drew a huge crowd.  I would have been 20 then and said "I was whipped" on my final entry that day.
1938 - The VS-300 made its first flight. The craft was based on the helicopter technology patented by Igor Sikorsky. We love our flying machines!


Parenting - At a sweet sixteen party yesterday.  Chelsea is such a pretty girl and a great personality.  They had the party at a hotel with a pool so the kids were all in the pool after eating tons of pizza.  Oh and they had a photo booth.  Love the crazy pictures.  Glad I wasn't the one that had to spend the night with them in the 3 rooms they rented.  Fun times!


Damascus -  Hate to see the news these days.

Climate[edit]

Damascus
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     28   13 0     23   15 2     17   19 4     7.9   25 7     3.3   30 11     0.4   34 14     0   37 17     0   36 17     0.2   33 13     7.1   28 9     21   20 4     26   14 1 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm Source: World Meteorological Organization[55]
[show]Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     1.1   55 33     0.9   59 35     0.7   66 38     0.3   76 45     0.1   85 51     0   94 58     0   98 62     0   97 62     0   92 55     0.3   82 48     0.8   69 39     1   58 34 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches

Its climate is classified as hot desert (BWh) in Köppen-Geiger system,^[56] due to the rain shadow effect of the Anti-Lebanon mountains^[57] and the prevailing ocean currents. Summers are dry and hot with less humidity. Winters are mild and comparatively rainy, sometimes snowy. Annual rainfall is around 130 mm (5 in), occurring from October to May.  Though I would do something mildly boring for today.


Enjoy the day!  Make it memorable!

September 13, 2014 Saturday

Going swimming today, well probably mostly sitting in the hot tub.  Chelsea's sweet 16 birthday party at a local hotel pool.  I'm always in for a party!


Isaiah  chapter 43 - This is good news vs 25 "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more."  He wants to forgive your sins, just ask him.


On this day:
1967 - My future husband, Don said he was going on a stag ride with the guys.  At 20, my fertile imagination wouldn't let me believe that.  I searched all the haunts that day, all day to find him.  Turns out he went on that stag ride.  This comes in handy with my book writing, to realize the insecurity that I experienced through my teenage years. Not sure the stag ride was the better alternative.
1789 - The United States Government took out its first loan. And so it began.


Parenting - I am a person that suffers from a split personality.  I have a conservative mind with a liberal heart.  It is hard to raise Republican children, especially if you send them to an extreme liberal college.  I didn't raise Nicole to think like I do, but to form her own opinions.  She does.  I  hate election years.


Damascus -  wow what a powder keg.


Damascus lies about 80 km (50 mi) inland from the Mediterranean, sheltered by the Anti-Lebanon mountains. It lies on a plateau 680 meters (2,230 ft) above sea-level. The city has an area of 105 km² (41 sq mi), out of which 77 km² (30 sq mi) is urban, while Jabal Qasioun occupies the rest.^[54]

One of the rare periods the Barada river is high, seen here next to the Four Seasons hotel in downtown Damascus

The old city of Damascus, enclosed by the city walls, lies on the south bank of the river Barada which is almost dry (3 cm (1 in) left). To the south-east, north and north-east it is surrounded by suburban areas whose history stretches back to the Middle Ages: Midan in the south-west, Sarouja and Imara in the north and north-west. These neighborhoods originally arose on roads leading out of the city, near the tombs of religious figures. In the 19th century outlying villages developed on the slopes of Jabal Qasioun, overlooking the city, already the site of the al-Salihiyah neighborhood centred on the important shrine of Sheikh Muhi al-Din ibn Arabi. These new neighborhoods were initially settled by Kurdish soldiery and Muslim refugees from the European regions of the Ottoman Empire which had fallen under Christian rule. Thus they were known as al-Akrad (the Kurds) and al-Muhajirin (the migrants). They lay two to three kilometres(1.2–1.9 miless) north of the old city.
From the late 19th century on, a modern administrative and commercial centre began to spring up to the west of the old city, around the Barada, centred on the area known as al-Marjeh or the meadow. Al-Marjeh soon became the name of what was initially the central square of modern Damascus, with the city hall on it. The courts of justice, post office and railway station stood on higher ground slightly to the south. A Europeanised residential quarter soon began to be built on the road leading between al-Marjeh and al-Salihiyah. The commercial and administrative centre of the new city gradually shifted northwards slightly towards this area.  I hope there is something left of this city after the war.


Enjoy the day!  Make it memorable!

September 12, 2014 Friday

Did some yoga this morning but it was too short.  Maybe look into a class for the winter.


1 Samuel chapter 17 - This is the story of David and Goliath.  I assume you all know it.  I like the study writers final comment. "Don't tell God how big your giants are. Tell your giants how big your God is."


On this day:
2008 - I was spending weekends with my buddy Fitz.  He lost his eyesight to Macular Degeneration and did not want to go into a nursing home.  So I started going out on Friday and staying till Sunday.  I would clean and make food and leave it in the fridge for him.  On this day, we broke the normal routine, which is huge for a blind person.  I drove up to Marine City and picked him up, after dinner, I brought him to my house to sit with my mom while I went to a concert my daughter was doing at church.  Then went back to Marine City afterwards with Fitz.  It was huge for him to do that, he was so comfortable with the same routine things we did.  Bless his heart.  RIP.
1922 - The Episcopal Church removed the word "Obey" from the bride's section of wedding vows. Wow talk about front runners.!


Parenting - My neighbor is a single mom with two boys.  I remember how hard it was to be and do everything and work.  I am happy to pick the guys up from school or take them on errands.  Dalton needed his Horn fixed, he is in band so Nicole came home and ran him up to the music store to drop off his trumpet.  That's what neighbors do.


Damascus Syria - looks like we are at war now with this nation.

Syrian civil war[edit]

Main article: Rif Dimashq Governorate campaign

See also: Cities and towns during the Syrian civil war and Casualties of the Syrian civil war

The uprising started with peaceful protests in the spring of 2011 and had grown to a civil war over the past year. On 6 January 2012, a car bomb exploded in Damascus killing more than 26 people, most of them civilians. State media said it was a suicide attack and blamed terrorists.^[48] In January 2012, clashes between the regular army and rebels reached the outskirts of Damascus, reportedly preventing people from leaving or reaching their houses, especially when security operations there intensified from the end of January into February.^[49]
On 17 March 2012, twin car bombs hit the heart of the city, targeting the Air Force Intelligence Service and the headquarters of the Security Forces killing at least 27 people, most of them civilians.^[50] An Islamic Jihadi faction called "Jabhat al-Nusra" claimed responsibility for the bomb attacks.^[51] In the early morning of 19 March, firefights and explosions broke out in the West Villas section of the heavily guarded and upscale Mezzeh neighborhood.^[52]
By June 2012, bullets and shrapnel shells smashed into homes in Damascus overnight as troops battled the Free Syrian Army in the streets. At least three tank shells slammed into residential areas in the central Damascus neighborhood of Qaboun, according to activists. Intense exchanges of assault-rifle fire marked the clash, according to residents and amateur video posted online.^[53]
Since the Battle of Damascus, the city has witnessed a security crackdown. Checkpoints have sprung up in the city. Traffic jams, like unemployment, became widespread and countryside refugees sleep in city parks.<sup>[citation needed]What happens that makes a country such war mongers? 


Enjoy the day!  Make it memorable.  Peace.  Miss you Dad, gone 54 years today.</sup>

September 11, 2014 Thursday Patriot day!

Did some kick boxing today.  Good day to kick butt on terrorism.  Go team!


Mark chapter 10 - We are a diverse religion.  The Bible speaks of many wars fought, but even though as Christians we are taught to be subservient, we are also told to put on the armor of faith.  I think the devil is unleashed right now, under a new name ISIS.  Pray for our soldiers and those around the world that are being confronted with this evil.  Now we are called to protect those who are losing the battle to terrorism.


On this day:
2005 -  Life goes on despite the many catastrophes that have happened.  At church on this day we remembered those lost on 911, and we were collecting money for the survivors of Katrina in New Orleans.  Later in the day, Mom and I went to the graveyard, my dad died on September 12, 1960.  Our lives do go on and we remember that we are still here to remember.


2001 - In the U.S., four airliners were hijacked and were intentionally crashed. Two airliners hit the World Trade Center, which collapsed shortly after, in New York City, NY. One airliner hit the Pentagon in Arlington, VA. Another airliner crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. About 3,000 people were killed.

2012 - Terrorists attacked the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Four Americans were brutally murdered and ten others were injured.  We need to forgive, but not forget.


Parenting - I was blessed with having my friend Monna drop off her grandson Abel with me yesterday.  Monna took Mom to church for Bible study with her ladies group, so I kept Abel in trade.  It was a good trade.  We played outside for a while.  When you haven't been around a 2 going on 3 year old in a while it is a reawakening.  Flip flops on a two year old can be pure entertainment on their own, especially on the wrong feet.  I haven't had a lunch of crackers, cheese and apple slices in quite a while either.  Great day!


Book Club - my book is coming along.  I have been managing to get at least an hour in every day.


Damascus Syria - Syria is welcoming our help to get rid of ISIS, but not to help their rebels that would help fight.  Understandably, they would then be armed to fight against their own government.  Let's look at some more history:

Modern[edit]

The Turkish Hospital in Damascus on 1 October 1918, shortly after the entry of the Australian 4th Light Horse Regiment

Damascus in flames as a result of the French air raid on 18 October 1925

The historical al-Merjeh square

In the early years of the 20th century, nationalist sentiment in Damascus, initially cultural in its interest, began to take a political colouring, largely in reaction to the turkicisation programme of the Committee of Union and Progress government established in Istanbul in 1908. The hanging of a number of patriotic intellectuals by Jamal Pasha, governor of Damascus, in Beirut and Damascus in 1915 and 1916 further stoked nationalist feeling, and in 1918, as the forces of the Arab Revolt and the British Imperial forces approached, residents fired on the retreating Turkish troops.
On 1 October 1918, T. E. Lawrence entered Damascus, the third arrival of the day, the first being the Australian 3rd Light Horse Brigade, led by Major A.C.N. 'Harry' Olden.^[46] Two days later, 3 October 1918, the forces of the Arab revolt led by Prince Faysal also entered Damascus.^[47] A military government under Shukri Pasha was named and Faisal ibn Hussein was proclaimed king of Syria. Political tension rose in November 1917, when the new Bolshevik government in Russia revealed the Sykes-Picot Agreement whereby Britain and France had arranged to partition the Arab east between them. A new Franco-British proclamation on 17 November promised the "complete and definitive freeing of the peoples so long oppressed by the Turks." The Syrian National Congress in March adopted a democratic constitution. However, the Versailles Conference had granted France a mandate over Syria, and in 1920 a French army commanded by the General Mariano Goybet crossed the Anti-Lebanon Mountains, defeated a small Syrian defensive expedition at the Battle of Maysalun and entered Damascus. The French made Damascus capital of their League of Nations Mandate for Syria.
When in 1925 the Great Syrian Revolt in the Hauran spread to Damascus, the French suppressed with heavy weaponry, bombing and shelling the city on 9 May 1926. As a result the area of the old city between Al-Hamidiyah Souq and Medhat Pasha Souq was burned to the ground, with many deaths, and has since then been known as al-Hariqa ("the fire"). The old city was surrounded with barbed wire to prevent rebels infiltrating from the Ghouta, and a new road was built outside the northern ramparts to facilitate the movement of armored cars.
On 21 June 1941, 3 weeks into the Allied Syria-Lebanon campaign, Damascus was captured from the Vichy French forces by a mixed British Indian and Free French force. The French agreed to withdraw in 1946, thus leading to the full independence of Syria. Damascus remained the capital. It doesn't appear that this country is ever destined for peace.


Enjoy the day!  Make it memorable!  Pray for our military.

September 10, 2014 Wednesday

Just a little ballet.  See how your balance is, get up on those toes and stretch arms out to side...t shape, don't move your eyes, focus on something.  How'd ya do?


Psalm 119  vs 9 - 16   "How can a young person stay on the path of purity?"  That is the first line verse 9.  I can testify to this,  very hard to do.  I have always read the Bible, not has much as now, and of course now it is easier to abide by.  God is aware of this and that's why that verse is there.  He also provides roads back to him when we stray.


On this day:
2004 - Carmen was the kid next door.  He was a little older then Aaron so he started working at my father in laws boat store first.  Later he decided to drive west to California and I packed him a travel box of food to eat along the way.  He was a beautiful young man and the girls literally hung out on the sidewalk in front of his house, but he was so down to earth and charming, it never went to his head.  He got married on this day down at the Roostertail to a beautifull girl that made them look like the perfect toppers on the wedding cake.  He started an e-commerce business and my daughter now works for him at the Michigan location.  He and his wife have 3 beautiful boys and live in California now.  Happy Anniversary Carmen and Donna!


1921 - The Ayus Autobahn in Germany opened near Berlin. The road is known for its nonexistent speed limit. I have all my life, wanted to drive on this.  Anyone out there that has?


Parenting - I love all the positive influences of family, friends and even aquaintances that have  been around myself, but mostly Aaron and Nicole.  I think when children see someone that act well, kindly, and are fun they like to emulate that person and take some of that person's good traits on.  Unfortunately, the opposite happens with some children.  Try to find positive role models for your kids, not Uncle Fred that tells gross jokes and acts in a rude manner to others. 


Damascus :  Heating up over there, maybe the history can give us insight.

Ottoman rule[edit]

See also: Damascus Eyalet and Syria Vilayet

Tekkiye Mosque

Al-Hamidiyah Souq

In early 1516, the Ottoman Turks, wary of the danger of an alliance between the Mamluks and the Persian Safavids, started a campaign of conquest against the Mamluk sultanate. On 21 September, the Mamluk governor of Damascus fled the city, and on 2 October the khutba in the Umayyad mosque was pronounced in the name of Selim I. The day after, the victorious sultan entered the city, staying for three months. On 15 December, he left Damascus by Bab al-Jabiya, intent on the conquest of Egypt. Little appeared to have changed in the city: one army had simply replaced another. However, on his return in October 1517, the sultan ordered the construction of a mosque, tekkiye and mausoleum at the shrine of Shaikh Muhi al-Din ibn Arabi in al-Salihiyah. This was to be the first of Damascus' great Ottoman monuments.
The Ottomans remained for the next 400 years, except for a brief occupation by Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt from 1832 to 1840. Because of its importance as the point of departure for one of the two great Hajj caravans to Mecca, Damascus was treated with more attention by the Porte than its size might have warranted—for most of this period, Aleppo was more populous and commercially more important. In 1560 the Tekkiye al-Sulaimaniyah, a mosque and khan for pilgrims on the road to Mecca, was completed to a design by the famous Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, and soon afterwards a madrasa was built adjoining it.
Under Ottoman rule, Christians and Jews were considered dhimmis and were allowed to practice their religious precepts. The Damascus affair that took place in 1840 was an incident in which the accusation of ritual murder was brought against members of the Jewish community of Damascus. In addition the massacre of Christians in 1860 was also one of the most notorious incidents of these centuries, when fighting between Druze and Maronites in Mount Lebanon spilled over into the city. Several thousand Christians were killed, with many more being saved through the intervention of the Algerian exile Abd al-Qadir and his soldiers (three days after the massacre started), who brought them to safety in Abd al-Qadir's residence and the citadel. The Christian quarter of the old city (mostly inhabited by Catholics), including a number of churches, was burnt down. The Christian inhabitants of the notoriously poor and refractory Midan district outside the walls (mostly Orthodox) were, however, protected by their Muslim neighbours.
American Missionary E.C. Miller records that in 1867 the population of the city was 'about' 140,000, of whom 30,000 were Christians, 10,000 Jews and 100,000 'Mohammedans' with fewer than 100 Protestant Christians.<sup>[45]


Enjoy the day!  Make it memorable!</sup>

September 9, 2014 Tuesday 2015 Old Farmers Almanac goes on sale today!

Did some Pilates today.  Keep that back strong!  Core strength! 


1 Samuel - chapter 28 -  This is where Saul has lost the battle with people and God.  God abandoned him because he abandoned God.  Saul wanted to get Samuel the prophet to advise him, but he was dead.  So Saul went to Endor who was a medium and raised Samuel to talk to Saul.  Samuel was mad being raised to come back and talk to Saul and told him there was nothing he could do, that Saul and his sons would be killed the following day.  Too little too late Saul.  tsk.


On this day:
1990 - I had the kindergarten Sunday School class.  There were almost 20 on that first day.  I had cleaned out a storage room that summer and some men from the church painted the room a bright yellow.  A couple long tables and I was set to go.  Aaron was helping me with my class that year, he was 13, too old for Sunday School but ok to help.  He was so good.  Nicole was in the class.  Then I got home and my husband and our roommate Marty has left a horrible mess in the house. they misjudged my Christian forgiveness that day.  But they did make dinner.
1919 - Alexander Graham Bell and Casey Baldwin's HD-4, a hydrofoil craft, set a world marine speed record. I didn't know Bell was into boat racing! 


Parenting - Just saw a mom going by pushing a baby buggy.  She had her head locked on her phone and shoulder.  It made me think of how babies LOVE the sound of their mothers voice and will listen with rapt attention.  I hope her conversation was infant appropriate.  I wonder if she even thinks about that.  I fear for tomorrows children.


Book Club  - You keep reading.  When I'm done I will tell you my books name so you can read it.


Damascus Syria - Looks like we might be getting into some serious situations here.  Lets check the history again.
With the arrival of the Seljuq Turks in the late 11th century, Damascus again became the capital of independent states. It was ruled by Abu Sa'id Taj ad-Dawla Tutush I starting in 1079 and he was succeeded by his son Abu Nasr Duqaq in 1095. The Seljuqs established a court in Damascus and a systematic reversal of Shia inroads in the city. The city also saw an expansion of religious life through private endowments financing religious institutions (madrasas) and hospitals (maristans). Damascus soon became one of the most important centers of propagating Islamic thought in the Muslim world. After Duqaq's death in 1104, his mentor (atabeg), Toghtekin, took control of Damascus and the Burid line of the Seljuq dynasty. Under Duqaq and Toghtekin, Damascus experienced stability, elevated status and a revived role in commerce. In addition, the city's Sunni majority enjoyed being a part of the larger Sunni framework effectively governed by various Turkic dynasties who in turn were under the moral authority of the Baghdad-based Abbasids.<sup>[34]It mentions the reversal of Shia and the larger Sunni framework.  Apparently these two groups have been at odds for a long time. 


Enjoy the day!  Make it memorable!</sup>